Immune Support for Elder Buns

[bunnluff]

Hello all!

Recently my poor little baby Pippin has been struggling with every ailment you can imagine (ok not every ailment, but it feels that way). It’s practically been one thing after another and I’ve realized I think she needs some good immune boosters. She already gets a probiotic every other day and I just started giving Critical Care again to get her defenses up. I’ve read that echinacea and goldenseal are both good. I bought a tincture of the two and have added 2 drops a day to their water crock. We have been dealing with a nasty ear mite infestation that was initially being greatly helped with honey, as I am extremely opposed  to antibiotics or medicines unless absolutely necessary, but it got much worse than I could handle and I resorted to Ivermectin which thankfully was inexpensive. The vets I have here are useless, otherwise I would have gone to the vet for help. I have realized that humidity might be a large factor to mites, fleas, etc. which we have been dealing with the last year or more. I live in the bay area near the coast, it has been unusually moist and humid lately. So eliminating a damp environment is probably a good idea. What kind of things should I be using daily or weekly to help support an elderly, or 2 elderly bunnies? Should I continue the tincture? I’ve also been cleaning the cage like crazy, just making sure there’s no yucky bacteria or and invitation for bugs to stick around. I didn’t realize that our home could be playing a part in lowered immune system but we didn’t have problems with any of this until we moved here and have been in this apartment for 2 years now. Any suggestions would be helpful!

[LongEaredLions]

Are you sure there are no vets (even if they are a few hours away) that can give you advice, even if they don’t treat your bunny, to back you up?
You could try the immune supplements oxbow makes, some people swear by them. Otherwise, I think cleaning often is a good thing to do, but really, if you are having this many issues, I would find a vet if at all possible.
(((((Vibes))))

[Sarita]

I’m surprised the vets in your area are useless, the San Francisco House Rabbit Society has a whole list of vets:

http://www.rabbit.org/foster-homes/burrow-inn/Rabbit%20Care/index-Rabbit%20Care.htm

Bottom of page.

I think the tincture sounds like a good idea though. It certainly cannot hurt and it might help.

[bunnluff]

Well the vet that was recommended to me by my bunny boarder is really tough to get to and I have been to her for both of my rabbits a couple of times but she charges a ton and always wants to jump to bloodwork and other things that cost a fortune rather than steering me in a less expensive, but still helpful direction. My last visit there was not a happy one and I will not be returning.

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